Effectiveness of weekly and daily iron administration for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia in infants.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effectiveness of daily versus weekly iron supplementation for preventing iron deficiency anemia in infants, with exclusive breastfeeding as the control.
Results Summary
The study found that exclusive breastfeeding without iron supplementation resulted in higher rates of iron deficiency and anemia compared to both daily and weekly iron supplementation groups. No significant differences in effectiveness, adherence, or adverse events were observed between daily and weekly supplementation.
Population
Infants aged 3 months without anemia, attending a public health center.
Effective Dosage
Daily (1 mg/kg/day) or weekly (4 mg/kg/week) iron supplementation.
Duration
3 months (from 3 to 6 months of age).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
daily iron supplementation (1 mg/kg/day) | decrease | iron deficiency (ID) | infants | 13.5% vs. 40.5% in control | had a higher prevalence of | #1 |
weekly iron supplementation (4 mg/kg/week) | decrease | iron deficiency (ID) | infants | 16.7% vs. 40.5% in control | had a higher prevalence of | #2 |
daily iron supplementation (1 mg/kg/day) | decrease | iron deficiency anemia (IDA) | infants | 7.8% vs. 33.3% in control | had a higher prevalence of | #3 |
weekly iron supplementation (4 mg/kg/week) | decrease | iron deficiency anemia (IDA) | infants | 10% vs. 33.3% in control | had a higher prevalence of | #4 |
daily iron supplementation (1 mg/kg/day) | no change | iron deficiency anemia (IDA) | infants | - | no significant differences in effectiveness were observed between | #5 |
weekly iron supplementation (4 mg/kg/week) | no change | iron deficiency anemia (IDA) | infants | - | no significant differences in effectiveness were observed between | #6 |
daily iron supplementation (1 mg/kg/day) | no change | adherence | infants | 50.6% daily versus 57.1% weekly | no differences in the percentage of high adherence to supplementation | #7 |
weekly iron supplementation (4 mg/kg/week) | no change | adherence | infants | 57.1% weekly versus 50.6% daily | no differences in the percentage of high adherence to supplementation | #8 |
daily iron supplementation (1 mg/kg/day) | no change | adverse events | infants | - | no differences in | #9 |
weekly iron supplementation (4 mg/kg/week) | no change | adverse events | infants | - | no differences in | #10 |
Introduction. Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency and the main cause of anemia in infants. There is consensus on daily iron supplementation as a preventive strategy; and weekly iron supplementation has also been shown to be effective, but evidence in infants is scarce. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of daily versus weekly iron administration for the prevention of ID anemia (IDA) in infants. Population and methods. Randomized, controlled clinical trial. Infants seen at a public health center, without anemia at 3 months of age, were randomized into 3 groups: daily supplementation (1 mg/kg/day), weekly supplementation (4 mg/kg/week), or no supplementation (control group with exclusive breastfeeding [EB]). Anemia and ID were assessed at 3 and 6 months old. Adherence and adverse events were recorded. Data were analyzed using the R software, version 4.0.3. Results. A total of 227 infants participated. At 6 months, the group of infants with EB without supplementation (control) had a higher prevalence of ID and IDA than the intervention groups (daily and weekly). ID: 40.5% versus 13.5% and 16.7% (p = 0.002); IDA: 33.3% versus 7.8% and 10% (p < 0.001). There were no differences between the daily and weekly supplementation groups. There were also no differences in the percentage of high adherence to supplementation (50.6% daily versus 57.1% weekly) or adverse events. Conclusions. No significant differences in effectiveness were observed between daily and weekly administration for the prevention of infant IDA. Introducción. La deficiencia de hierro (DH) es la carencia nutricional más prevalente y la principal causa de anemia en lactantes. Existe consenso en la suplementación diaria con hierro como estrategia de prevención; también se demostró que la suplementación semanal es eficaz, pero la evidencia en lactantes es escasa. El objetivo fue comparar la efectividad de la administración diaria de hierro frente a la semanal para la prevención de la anemia por DH del lactante. Población y métodos. Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado. Lactantes atendidos en un centro de salud público, sin anemia a los 3 meses de edad, aleatorizados en tres grupos: suplementación diaria (1 mg/kg/día), semanal (4 mg/kg/semana) o sin suplementación (grupo control con lactancia materna exclusiva [LME]). Se evaluó anemia y DH a los 3 y 6 meses. Se registró grado de adherencia y efectos adversos. Los datos se analizaron con el software R versión 4.0.3. Resultados. Participaron 227 lactantes. A los 6 meses el grupo de lactantes con LME sin suplementación (control) presentó prevalencias de DH y anemia por DH (ADH) mayores que los grupos intervenidos (diario y semanal). DH: 40,5 % vs. 13,5 % y 16,7 % (p = 0,002); ADH: 33,3 % vs. 7,8 % y 10 % (p < 0,001). No hubo diferencias entre los grupos diario y semanal. Tampoco hubo diferencias en el porcentaje de alta adherencia a la suplementación (50,6 % diaria vs. 57,1 % semanal), ni en los efectos adversos. Conclusiones. No se hallaron diferencias significativas en la efectividad entre la administración diaria y semanal para la prevención de ADH del lactante.